VertiMax Vive

Itam (I.T.) Antigha, more commonly referred to as "I.T.", is one of the members of the VertiMax Team as part of the Inside Sales and Client Support team. He is responsible for supporting and serving the VertiMax community by organizing personalized visits to educate, engage and develop relationships with coaches, trainers, and athletes.

I.T. often helps clients with information around maintaining their Vertimax in the best condition possible. In this episode, he speaks with Al on some of the signs you need to be aware of when it comes to replacing your Vertimax resistance bands.

Key Takeaways:

[1:55] What's the difference between a vertimax band and an average resistance band?

[3:50] On average, how long do Vertimax bands last?

[5:00] When does it make sense to change the bands? Are there signs to look out for?

[6:45] Can the client/owner change the bands themselves? Yes!

[8:40] How do you find replacement bands?

[10:15] It's important to know that you'll be replacing the set of bands with your Vertimax; not just one band.

[12:00] Need help? Send us an email or message! Happy to help!

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Tweetables:

"The more you maintain the bands after each use, the better it would be to you."

"If there are white fibers sticking out of your bands, that's an indication that you want to change your band soon."

Itam (I.T.) Antigha, more commonly referred to as "I.T.", is one of the members of the VertiMax Team as part of the Inside Sales and Client Support team. He is responsible for supporting and serving the VertiMax community by organizing personalized visits to educate, engage and develop relationships with coaches, trainers, and athletes.

I.T. is back with another informative episode with Al. They talk about how linebackers can improve their movements with specific drills that help them move in a versatile direction. Linebacker requirements have changed over the years, and are required to be developed into more speedy blockers. Here's some drills to consider when you're improving your linear and lateral movements.

Key Takeaways:

[1:15] A little bit about I.T. and what he does at team Vertimax.

[1:50] Linebacker position in football has changed dramatically over the years.

[4:20] Being able to work forwards and backwards is key to a well-developed linebacker.

[4:35] I.T. explains the Angle Drill.

[5:55] Back peddle and shuffle drill.

[8:30] Open field tackling - what should players be aware of?

[12:10] I.T. shares why cutback drills are helpful for in-game practice.

[15:00] Want more football drill info? Download the Vertimax app!

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Tweetables:

"The game of football has become much more passing and running all over the field, the linebacker has to be a blend of athletic, fast, and also stopping the run."

"Linebackers are like hybrid safeties. Linebackers have shrunk in size over time. ."

Brett Kuehn is a sports and human performance enthusiast, athlete, and mentor to Team VertiMax. He is a USMC veteran and business development professional at VertiMax. Brett's passion is to help others achieve their goals whether they are an athlete looking to improve their speed, agility, and verticals; a coach looking to help their athletes gain an edge, or a sports performance owner or trainer seeking new ways to increase their business.

Al and Brett talk about some different ways you can improve your volleyball game during the off-season. He just got back from a training camp session and has some interesting insights to share on what athletes are doing to improve their jumps, agility, and net drills in this week's episode.

Key Takeaways:

[2:25] If you want to get far in volleyball, you need to jump high. You can't forget this part during the off-season.

[3:45] Aside from using the VertiMax with multiple athletes, resistance bands are very helpful to target certain areas.

[4:55] Brett talks about why he likes to use the agility ladder.

[5:50] Passing the net drills and how to hone in on making your game more efficient.

[6:45] How do you best improve your blocking moves?

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Tweetables:

"Agility ladder is a great warm up drill to use to get your hips loose, your ankles, and helps you with your coordination. Super cheap and easy to move around."

"Resistance bands are small. You can hang them up on a wall. They are a cheap alternative to dumbbells."

Brett Kuehn is a sports and human performance enthusiast, athlete, and mentor to Team VertiMax. He is a USMC veteran and business development professional at VertiMax. Brett's passion is to help others achieve their goals whether they are an athlete looking to improve their speed, agility, and verticals; a coach looking to help their athletes gain an edge, or a sports performance owner or trainer seeking new ways to increase their business.

Al and Brett talk about some of the fun ways you can get your kid excited and moving in youth baseball. Kids need to be engaged and their circummlum needs to be fun or else they'll never want to go. Brett breaks down some routines for you to train to get children moving and consistent.

Key Takeaways:

[1:00] What are some fun ways to train for youth baseball?

[1:50] Brett breaks down some fun baseball warmups.

[3:20] Best hitting drills you can use for your young athletes.

[6:35] Al loves seeing his kids have a relay race at the very end of each practice.

[7:30] If kids are just going through the motions, it gets boring for them.

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Tweetables:

"Run through first, that's it. So the kids will run as fast as they can through first so that you can see who gets there the fastest."

"Their fun is part of the practice. A relay race is a great way to do that."

Kerry Bennett is a VertiMax Master Trainer and Ambasador. Kerry is a former NFL player with the Washington Redskins and has successfully transitioned into a renowned sports performance coach. With a degree in kinesiology, he founded the Beast Bus, a mobile sports performance facility featuring advanced training equipment like VertiMax.

Al and Kerry talk about what it means to be a VertiMax trainer as well as a VertiMax ambassador. Kerry shares why he's passionate about the VertiMax system and how it helps you stand out from a very saturated sports industry as a coach.

Key Takeaways:

[1:50] A little bit about Kerry and his athletic career.

[5:10] What does it take to be a VertiMax Master Trainer?

[7:55] Learn more about the VertiMax ambassador program.

[10:55] VertiMax trainer is unique in itself and separates you from other sports performance coaches.

[12:55] Kerry is also a community outreach partner in Texas. What has Kerry learned so far?

[16:40] Kerry loves being in this space because he's always learning something new.

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Tweetables:

"You can make a business just using the VertiMax alone. If you're a trainer just starting out, it's portable and you can build your whole program around it."

"Anywhere from athlete, anywhere from general pop, you can create a fitness routine [with the VertiMax]. You can't go wrong with it."

Jennifer George is the Women's Basketball Strength Coach at Rollins College as well as the Director of Sports Performance at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Jennifer is also the Founder of Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation, a youth organization based in Orlando, Florida.

Al and Jennifer talk about the difference between coaching high school vs. college teams on this week's episode. Jennifer has also played internationally and has seen a wide range of students come through her doors. She shares what it takes to be a well-rounded coach at the university level that takes into account the different athletic needs with each of her students.

Key Takeaways:

[1:05] A little bit about Jennifer and her athletic career.

[1:35] What are some of the differences between playing pro in the US vs. internationally?

[4:45] Jennifer has coached both high school and college. What are some of the pros and cons of both?

[9:30] Jennifer is able to push college women a little harder than the highschool team due to the flexible schedule.

[10:10] In college, you have to adapt to new schedules, which can make training consistently a lot harder.

[10:40] Are you new to coaching? Find a mentor.

[12:10] There is no 'right' way to train. However, there is definitely a wrong way.

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Tweetables:

"Challenges at the highschool level are time and commitments. It's basically 6am or after school, so you lose a lot of that time."

"The challenge at college level is the actual sport and coaches canceling on a whim. You have a plan and the next thing you know, the practice is canceled."

Jennifer George is the Women's Basketball Strength Coach at Rollins College as well as the Director of Sports Performance at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Jennifer is also the Founder of Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation, a youth organization based in Orlando, Florida.

Al and Jennifer talk about women's sports and certain challenges that women face when they're playing a sport to its fullest potential. Although the United States has done better when it comes to bridging the gap between male and female sports, it's still not perfect.

Key Takeaways:

[2:00] A little bit about Jennifer and her athletic career.

[3:35] Jennifer shares the moment she knew she wanted to make basketball her career.

[9:00] What kind of challenges has Jennifer faced in her sport's career?

[11:20] 40% of girls drop out of sports in middle school due to lack of opportunities.

[12:50] Representation matters at all levels, and not just in sports.

[14:30] Jennifer is passionate about closing the gap between male and female sports in the Caribbean. She explains how it's different over there than it is in the United States.

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Tweetables:

"I had a passion, I would do it for free. I love training people."

"40% of girls drop out of sports because of lack of opportunities and lack of skill sets."

Jennifer George is the Women's Basketball Strength Coach at Rollins College as well as the Director of Sports Performance at Bishop Moore Catholic High School. Jennifer is also the Founder of Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation, a youth organization based in Orlando, Florida.

Jennifer joins Al to discuss her Foundation and why there's a deep need to help underprivileged players that are on sports scholarships. Sports have the ability to elevate your mindset and your quality of life, and Jennifer shares why it's important to encourage our youth of today to continue playing in these sports programs.

Key Takeaways:

[2:00] A little bit about Jennifer and her athletic history.

[3:20] Why did Jennifer Found the Girls Basketball Worldwide Foundation?

[4:50] So few go on to play in the WNBA/NBA, but that shouldn't deter people from playing sports. Sports can teach you so much.

[7:15] What's next for Jennifer and her Foundation?

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Tweetables:

"Even though girls can come or athletes can come to the states to have a better life for themselves, they still need help once they're here."

"40% of girls drop out of sports after middle school."

Mario Garza is the Director of Baseball Development at the New York Yankees. As a former pro baseball athlete for the Houston Astros, Mario uses his expertise to help develop baseball players to maximize their full potential and make them better.

Mario joins Al to discuss drill strategies for different baseball positions. He offers advice for both infield and outfield athletes looking to up their game and increase their explosive power. You don't want to miss this quick 15-minute episode!

Key Takeaways:

[1:35] A little bit about Mario and his work at the New York Yankees.

[2:45] What kind of drills should infield baseball athletes be practicing?

[3:45] It's incredibly important to practice throwing at different angles.

[5:00] Mario explains what a game clock drill is.

[6:05] What drills should outfield athletes be practicing?

[8:25] You pay rent on speed. What does Mario mean by this?

[10:10] You have to actively practice increasing your speed. Don't take it for granted.

[12:45] Mario offers tricks on how you can make your bat a little heavier to train speed.

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Tweetables:

"When we're playing catch, I think it's important to move our feet while catching. We're never going to make a throw from a standstill position."

"Put the constraint of a game clock on the player so that they have to make a play quicker or slower depending on the runner."

Mario Garza is the Director of Baseball Development at the New York Yankees. As a former pro baseball athlete for the Houston Astros, Mario uses his expertise to help develop baseball players to maximize their full potential and make them better.

Mario joins Al to share insights into what it takes to nurture the next generation of MLB stars. They dive into the evolving landscape of player development, the role of a development coach, and Mario offers advice for parents on fostering athletic talent in young children in this week's episode!

Key Takeaways:

[1:25] A little bit about Mario and his work at the New York Yankees.

[3:30] What does a player development coach mean?

[5:35] How has player development improved over the years?

[7:50] How should parents be thinking about cultivating athletic talent in their children?

[12:20] Is there a blueprint on what the MLB is looking for or does it depend on each team?

[13:10] 8 months out of the year, you're in full competition mode.

[13:40] It's important to note that baseball is a game of recovery.

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Tweetables:

"A player development coach is looking at anything and everything that we can develop in an athlete. At the end of the day, our job is to maximize the value and potential."

"The crucial window of 8-12, you can actually impact the development of the athlete and their general athleticism."